HYER MAIN TRES PENSIS ... | EARLY ONE DAY ... |
Anon. Trouveres (early 13c.) | tr. Peter Dean |
Hyer main tres pensis arroie mon chemin, vi desouz un pin pastorele qui Robin apeloit de cuer fin. Tantost vers lui me trais, s’amor li demandai. Ele respont maintenant, "Biau sire, non ferai, car j’ai ami nouvel et s’amors mout me plaist; n’autre ne vueil de lui. A moi avez vous failli." |
Early one day, as I went pensively, I saw beneath a tree a shepherdess and she called for her love most touchingly. Right speedily I her addressed, asking if I could be her best. Answer she gave me thus: "Kind sir, I can’t accept, I’ve a new lover now and his love’s most adept; with him I want no other. With me you must not bother!" |
Trans. Copyright © Peter Dean 2003